8 Comments

Of the many, many stories about Monty, one of my favorites is when he signed on as road manager for a short stint being den mother to Nirvana. After the 4th or 5th trashed motel room, Monty was reading them the riot act in front of a smashed TV. Supposedly Cobain says, "We were going to toss the TV out the window, but we couldn't get it open." To which Monty replies, "If you were real punks, you would have thrown it THROUGH the window!"

Monty. So many things I could say. If I had to pick a favorite Monty moment, it would be when he taught me how to listen to music. It sounds silly, but some of you will get it. That lesson changed my life. I haven't talked to him in a few years, but Monty will always hold a special place in my heart.

Monty Lee Wilkes, 54, of Willow River passed away Aug. 26, 2016.
He was born in Sandstone, on May 14, 1962 and graduated from Barnum High School. He attended UMD.
He was the sound engineer for Replacements, Nirvana and First Ave. After helping shape the acoustics at Minnesota's landmark rock venue First Avenue and keeping chaotic tours with the Replacements and Nirvana on track, Monty Lee Wilkes settled into an impressive 30-plus-year career as a sound engineer with artists ranging from Prince and Britney Spears to the Beastie Boys.
The veteran Twin Cities roadie, 54, died Friday after receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis last fall. He had returned to his parents' house two weeks ago in Kettle River, Minn., to undergo hospice care.
Wilkes' impressively varied résumé also included stints with Soul Asylum, the Suburbs, Babes in Toyland, the Smithereens, Alice in Chains, Joe Strummer, Lisa Marie Presley, Red Kross, Siouxsie & the Banshees, the Go-Gos, the dBs, the B-52's and, another recent one, the Commodores.
In addition to his dad and mother, Howard and Sandra Wilkes, Monty is survived by brother, Ray "Harpo" Wilkes; daughter Olivia; and dog Penny Lane.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, in the Elmwood Inn, 2145 Highway 61, Carlton (Atkinson) 55718.